By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.

Ideas are the Sparks!

There are many quotes about innovation and how it is fostered.  I have several hanging in my office.  We recently looked to these as we were deciding the name for our new breakfast series.  Our brainstorming kept coming back to the concept that ideas are the beginning - they create the "spark" that fuels innovation.  Good ideas... bad ideas... ideas that need time to marinate... etc.  It seems undeniable (and simplistic to say) that innovation begins with ideas.   Too often we don't give ourselves space and time to explore ideas for the sake of exploring ideas.  If we did, what might "spark"?

The Innovation District is launching a new breakfast series called Morning Sparks: Innovation X-change.  This series will be the opportunity to explore emerging technologies and concepts, learn about District partners' related efforts and engage in thoughtful (and hopefully spirited) discussions about the future.

We are looking forward to seeing what "sparks" at our first Morning Sparks on April 24th.  For more details click here.

Have a great spring!

Alison Barlow

Executive Director

You may also be interested in...

March 20, 2026
March 20, 2026

In the season finale episode of Innovation in the ‘Burg, we gave Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, all the knowledge from the St. Pete Innovation District 2024 Impact Report and sat down to interview it.

March 20, 2026
March 20, 2026

The St. Petersburg Innovation District is hitting double digits! On April 10th, the district will celebrate 10 years of sparking bold ideas, fueling research, and powering economic growth across the city and beyond.

February 20, 2026
February 23, 2026

Welcome, GISJane, to the Maritime and Defense Technology Hub! A woman-owned business based in St. Petersburg, Florida, GISJane is dedicated to making innovative engineering solutions accessible to all